Reflections on Folk Linguistics:The “Novo Dicionário Cearense”, Linguistic practices and lay hypotheses

Authors

  • Marcelo Barros Gonçalves UFMS
  • Agne Poço

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55028/9deq4n90

Keywords:

Folk Linguistics, Novo Dicionário Cearense, Linguistic practices, Lay hypotheses

Abstract

In this paper, we present some reflections on Folk Linguistics based on the concepts of linguistic practices and lay hypotheses, that is, moments in which ordinary speakers, without training in ​​language studies, produce analyses of certain linguistic phenomena. From the perspective of Niedzielski and Preston (2021, p. 13), Folk Linguistics seeks to identify and examine people's beliefs and attitudes about language in different dimensions—such as speech production, perception, and cognitive processing—gathering and analyzing explicit comments made by non-specialist speakers. Our main objective is to analyze the "New Ceará Dictionary: Expressions and terms used by the people of Ceará" authored by Anchieta Dantas, known as Zé do Jati (DANTAS, 2020), considered here a non-linguist. This is a non-academic dictionary, published in the form of a Cordel (a type of Brazilian folk literature), and distributed for purchase at popular fairs, regional craft fairs, and public markets in the state of Ceará.

References

ACHARD-BAYLE & PAVEAU, M-A. Linguística popular: a linguística ‘fora do templo’ – definição, geografia e dimensões. IN: Revista Fórum linguístico, (2008) 2020. Disponível em https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/forum/article/view/1984-8412.2019v16n4p4257/42452

AUROUX, S. A Revolução Tecnológica da Gramatização. Campinas: Unicamp, 1992.

BRIGHT, W. (org.). Sociolinguistics. Proceedings of the UCLA Sociolinguistics Conference. Haia-Paris: Mouton, 1966.

DANTAS, A. Novo Dicionário Cearense: Expressões e termos usados pelos Cearenses. Editora Katre-Vage Ltda, Fortaleza, Ceará: 2020.

NIEDZIELSKI, Nancy A.; PRESTON, Dennis Richard. Folk linguistics. Walter de Gruyter, 2003.

PAVEAU, Marie-Anne; DA SILVA ESTEVES, Phellipe Marcel. Não linguistas fazem linguística? Uma abordagem antieliminativa das ideias populares. Policromias - Revista de Estudos do Discurso, Imagem e Som, v. 3, n. 2, p. 21-45, 2018.

PAVEAU, M. Linguística folk: uma introdução. Organizado por Roberto Leiser Baronas, Tamires Cristina Bonani Conti e Julia Lourenço Costa. Araraquara: Letraria, 2020.

PRESTON, Dennis. Methods in (applied) folk linguistics. AILA Review 24, pg. 15-39, 2011.

TRASK, R. L. Dicionário de linguagem e linguística. Trad. de Rodolfo Ilari, com a revisão técnica de Ingedore Villaça Koch e Thaís Cristófaro Silva. São Paulo, SP: Contexto, 2004.

Published

2026-06-10

Issue

Section

Artigos - Linguística e Semiótica

How to Cite

GONÇALVES, Marcelo Barros; POÇO, Agne. Reflections on Folk Linguistics:The “Novo Dicionário Cearense”, Linguistic practices and lay hypotheses. Papéis: Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Estudos de Linguagens - UFMS , [S. l.], v. 30, n. 59, p. 44–58, 2026. DOI: 10.55028/9deq4n90. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufms.br/index.php/papeis/article/view/25774. Acesso em: 24 jun. 2026.